< Back to Front Page Text size – +

Video: Pre-game report

Email|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff October 26, 2008 10:22 AM

FOXBOROUGH -- The Globe's Mike Reiss previews the Patriots vs. Rams with a focus on the weather, injuries at running back, and the success St. Louis enjoyed last week with an unbalanced line.

Click the "full entry" link below to watch the video, or check out the written summary below.

Written summary:

Elements shouldn't be much of a factor today.

Ninety minutes before every game, there is a meeting with the officiating crew. At that time, both teams inform the officiating crew of their inactive players. This is topical today as both teams have injury questions at running back -- the Rams with Steven Jackson and the Patriots with Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan -- so that information should become available around noon.

From a tactical standpoint, the Rams had success last week with an unbalanced offensive line, scoring on a 56-yard run. The Patriots were beaten badly by an unbalanced line -- which takes place when an offensive tackle switches sides and lines up next to the other offensive tackle -- in their 38-13 loss to the Dolphins. An unbalanced line can be a challenge for a defense because it alters the gaps a defense must fill in the running game. Watch for left tackle Orlando Pace (76) and right tackle Alex Barron (70) today to see if the Rams go unbalanced to try to shake up the Patriots' front-seven on defense.

» Back to Front Page

1 comments so far...

Question for anyone:

What's the best way to counter an unbalanced OL? Unbalance your DL (two DEs next to each other)? Shift your LBs toward that side?

Posted by gick October 26, 08 11:54 AM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

You must be logged in to submit a comment.

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

see all globe blogs